Southwell hosts back-to-back cards of all-weather racing on Wednesday and Thursday. After our through the card selections for Wednesday, here are our selections for an equally competitive line-up of races on Thursday.
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Tortured Soul is on a roll and may simply prove too strong in his quest for a fifth straight victory. However, this race is his first step up in class in that run and his mark is now 8lb higher than for his last success. All that combines to suggest LEXINGTON HERO could have better than an outside chance of causing an upset.
Jack Channon’s yard have been in good recent form with their select runners in 2024 and despite this four-year-old being in poor form on turf last year, his earlier runs on the all-weather were far better. If revitalised from a break and able to recapture some of that earlier promise on artificial surfaces, his mark of 60 greatly underestimates him.
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Castle In The Sand’s rating of 84 looks overblown on what he has achieved on the racecourse and there could well be one in this field who can usurp him. Of most appeal is CORRALES, who is very well-related and shaped well enough on his debut to suggest more is to come.
James Ferguson’s charge is a full brother to a pair of Listed winners in Fanciful Angel and Mountain Angel, the former having done so on the all-weather. Both improved significantly on their second starts on a racecourse too, so there could easily be more to come and he is not underestimated.
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This looks very competitive, with plenty of last-time-out winners and progressive types. The draw suits SMART VISION’s front-running should trainer and jockey pursue the same tactics which brought victory at Newcastle last month. He is 3lb higher in the weights, but that form looks to have substance with the second and third both making the frame at least once since, so he narrowly gets the vote.
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Though he showed precious little in Ireland, MEDICI PASS came good very readily for Iain Jardine at Newcastle on his stable debut last week and looks set to improve his mark exponentially. That run has come recently enough that he receives just a 5lb penalty, ensuring he is effectively 4lb well-in here against a field in which none finished better than fourth on their previous starts. It would be a big surprise were he not to justify likely strong favouritism here.
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URBAN DANDY looks a fine bet to go one better than when an unlucky runner-up over course and distance last time. That run at the start of March was his first over 7f, and having suffered interference, he still managed to be beaten just a short head. He gets to run off the same mark here and there are no alternatives who are so obviously well-handicapped to beat him. The danger may be Mine That Ship on his second run for Michael Wigham after also finishing second most recently.
7.30 Southwell – Find More Big Deals At BetUK Classified Stakes (Div I)
It can often pay to side with those dropping from handicaps in classified stakes such as this, so while Catherine Chroi ran well in a contest of this nature last time, it’s possible she may run into one stronger here.
The two who fit the bill closest are Alfred Cove and LIL WADE, with narrow preference for the latter. The first-named’s recent form is too much of a concern, but the selection was a decent fourth in handicap company over 5f at this venue last time. There is a slight concern that he may be stretched by 6f, but he may well possess enough ability to overcome stamina doubts under a patient ride.
8.00 Southwell – Find More Big Deals At BetUK Classified Stakes (Div II)
A similar solution to the above in division two of this Classified Stakes may be HIGHER LAW for Kevin Frost and Hollie Doyle. The four-year-old struggled to get involved over 5f last time, but the large majority of his efforts have been over 6f, which is where he performs best. Though still yet to win in 20 starts, he has never run in a race of this nature and may finally have been found the opportunity after generally being consistent at a slightly higher level.
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It is more than plausible that Stolen Encounter improves for this further step up in trip, but easily the most reliable under these conditions is ZEPHLYN, who may go one better than on his previous two starts. Jason Hart will likely send him forward and make it tough for any of his rivals to pass him and his mark still looks workable.
Southwell Through The Card Tips
CorralesJoe Napier’s tips for Thursday 21st February 2024.
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